batcheller



UNTED STATES PATENT OFFQE.

L. B. BATCHELTGR, OF ROCHESTER, NEW' YORK, ASSiGN-Ol TO -HIMSELF AND R. B. HURD, OF SAME PLACE.

CHAIR-SEAT.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 30,022, dated September 1 1, 1860.

To all whomV it may concern:

Be it known that I, L. B. BATCHELLER, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Metallic Seat for Chairs, Stools, &c.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a plan view of my improved seat as applied to an Octagon stool; Fig. 2, is a vertical section thereof; Figs. 3 and e are modifications in the style of the fabric to render the appearance more ornamental.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

My improvement in seats consists in the employment of wire fabrics woven in the piece, from which they are cut of the desired form and size, and applied to the chair in the following manner: The frames having been constructed in the usual manner for cane seats, except that no boring is required, the wire fabric is cut of the form of the opening or interior of the frame, but larger by the space of three fourths of an inch, or t-hereabout, all around. This margin is then bent or turned down at right angles with the seat portion, which is thereby left of the exact size of the opening of the seat frame. Glue is applied both to the frame and edges of the fabric, and while it is hot, strips or cleats are placed on the inside being also covered with glue on the side in contact with the wire fabric, and nails are then driven through the cleats into the frame of the seat, by which the whole is firmly held together. Vhen the glue has hardened, the union is so strong that the edges of the fabric never become loose or yield from any weight or use to which the seat is subjected. The fabric is left even with the top of the frame, making a smooth surface and finished appearance.

My improvement is designed to supersede the weaving of chair seats of cane, willow, and other similar materials, which is a process so slow and tedious as always to be attended with considerable expense, and, as it can only be done by manual labor the expense can never be reduced except by the reduction of the wages of the Vlabor by which it is produced. It is also liable to certain objections, among which the want of durability is an important one; and its appearance can never be rendered ornamental, as the process does not admit of a variety of patterns.

By my improved method the fabric may be woven in a great variety of geometrical iignres, designs and patterns, which produce an agreeable effect to the eye, and yet can be produced by machinery at a very small cost above that of the mere material. Figs. 3 and 4 exhibit a few of the more common patterns of weaving which are adapted to the purpose, and these patterns may be varied to an almost infinite extent. As an ordinary material iron may be used, and for iiner work, brass or copper wire, electroplated and bronzed. ron and brass may be woven together to form figures which contrast in color, and a novel and pleasing effect may be produced on plain fabrics of fine texture by rolling them between hardened rollers having iigures or ornamental work in relief on their surfaces, which will in the process of rolling under sufiicient power impart their designs by impressing them permanently. Painting or varnishing may be resorted to to prevent oxidation when iron is used, and tinning, or galvanizing with zinc is a cheap method of rendering the work durable.

By the described process of inserting the seats an immense economy of time is effected, as from forty to fifty seats may be inserted in the time required to produce one of cane by weaving.

The fabrics, even when composed of very small wire, possess sufficient strength unless the meshes are too large, and will wear a period vastly longer than cane, if properly protected from oxidation.

This method is not only adapted to producing work for common use, but for elegance and taste in all light and fancy work.

It is also equally applicable to the backs of chairs which are not upholstered.

A is the seat; B, the seat frame; c c are the edges turned to fit the inside of the frame; CZ (l the strips used to fasten the edges LMid support the seat; and e e the nails which assist the glue in uniting the parts.

I do not claim the use of iron or other metal as the material for chair seats, but- That I claim as my invention, and de- 10 sire to secure by Letters Patent7 is- Construeting chair seats from Wire cloth, arranged substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth.

L. B. BATCHELLER. `Wtnessesz JAMES C. CAMPBELL, J. FRASER. 

